700 set - Modifiers - Get the knives out!

IMO
1. D
2. E
3. D
4. E
5. B
6. E
7. A
8. E
9. D
10.D

The highlighted part is very important. Test takers should prepare themselves to see at least 3 - 4 SC questions completely underlined in which even narrowing down to 3 choices would be a difficult task.( because all of them possibly be grammatically correct and the correct choice is the one which conveys intended meaning unambiguously) and GMAT is testing a lot more than just grammar errors, these days.

Thank you guys for the explanation, that helps a lot!

Meaning
Although the runway was covered in 11 inches of snow, the aviation official said the conditions of the runway were acceptable during the time of emergency landing

Error Analysis
The statement "Although covered in about 11 inches of snow" modifies aviation official. So this means they were talking about the runway conditions when they were under 11 inches of snow. Modifier Error

POE

• aviation officials said that conditions on the runway at the time of the emergency landing was
acceptable - As explained in error analysis
• the runway conditions during the emergency landing were acceptable according to aviation
officials - The runway conditions were covered in 11 inches of snow, again doesn't make sense
• according to aviation officials, the runway was in acceptable condition during the time of the
emergency landing - Here there is a confusing modifier error. "If according to aviation official modifies Although.....", it means 11 inches of snow is according to aviation official and not a fact. If "Although covered in ..... modifies according to aviation official it doesn't make sense"
• the runway was in acceptable condition during the emergency landing, according to aviation
officials - Correct answer choice
• aviation officials said that conditions on the runway at the time of the emergency landing were
acceptable - Same as A

Meaning
There is a new data which talks about increase in toxic emissions by domestic factories. Discouraged by this new data shareholders of leading manufacturing companies are searching for alternate investment opportunities.

Error Analysis
The original sentence verb-ed modifier, modifies searches. Searches are not discouraged, shareholders are discouraged. Because they are discouraged, they are searching for other opportunities.

POE

• searches for alternative investment opportunities are being conducted by shareholders of the
nation’s leading manufacturing companies - Modifier error as discussed in error analysis
• searches are being conducted by shareholders of the nation’s leading manufacturing
companies who are looking for alternative investment opportunities - same error as A, also the relative pronoun who indicates manufacturing companies are looking for opportunities, this distorts the meaning
• shareholders of the nation’s leading manufacturing companies had begun searching for
investment opportunities outside of the manufacturing industry - Verb tense error, Had begun indicates past perfect tense, this means that shareholders had begun their search and later they were discouraged, This is not the intended meaning of the sentence.
• the nation’s leading manufacturing companies are searching for alternative investment
opportunities for its shareholders - This sentence does not have any grammatical error but changes the meaning. The sentence original conveys shareholders are looking for opportunities but this option changes the meaning to leading mfg companies are looking for opportunities
• shareholders of the nation’s leading manufacturing companies are searching for alternative
investment opportunities - Correct answer choice

1. Although covered in about 11 inches of snow, aviation officials said that conditions on the
runway at the time of the emergency landing was acceptable.

• aviation officials said that conditions on the runway at the time of the emergency landing was
acceptable
• the runway conditions during the emergency landing were acceptable according to aviation
officials
• according to aviation officials, the runway was in acceptable condition during the time of the
emergency landing
• the runway was in acceptable condition during the emergency landing, according to aviation
officials
• aviation officials said that conditions on the runway at the time of the emergency landing were
acceptable

2. Discouraged by new data that show increases in toxic emissions from domestic factories,
searches for alternative investment opportunities are being conducted by shareholders of the
nation’s leading manufacturing companies.

• searches for alternative investment opportunities are being conducted by shareholders of the
nation’s leading manufacturing companies
• searches are being conducted by shareholders of the nation’s leading manufacturing
companies who are looking for alternative investment opportunities
• shareholders of the nation’s leading manufacturing companies had begun searching for
investment opportunities outside of the manufacturing industry
• the nation’s leading manufacturing companies are searching for alternative investment
opportunities for its shareholders
• shareholders of the nation’s leading manufacturing companies are searching for alternative
investment opportunities [b][/b]

3. Found in the wild only in Australia and New Guinea, powerful back legs with long feet
distinguish kangaroos from other large mammals.

• powerful back legs with long feet distinguish kangaroos from other large mammals
• powerful back legs with long feet distinguish kangaroos from other mammals that are large
• powerful back legs with long feet distinguish kangaroos from those of other mammals that are
large
• kangaroos are distinguished from other large mammals by powerful legs with long feet
• kangaroos are being distinguished from other mammals that are large by powerful legs with
long feet

4. Responding to growing demand for high-end vehicles, the interiors of the newest models are
so luxurious that they sell for nearly twice the price of last year's models.

• the interiors of the newest models are so luxurious that they sell
• the interiors of the newest models are so luxurious that the cars are sold
• auto makers have installed interiors in the newest models that are so luxurious that they sell
• the interior of the newest models are so luxurious that they are sold
• auto makers have installed such luxurious interiors in the newest models that these cars sell

5. By applying optimization techniques commonly used to plan operations, it is possible to
determine how much effort ought to be devoted to each of a company’s products in order to
meet its goals in both the short and long terms.

• it is possible to determine how much effort ought to be devoted to each of a company’s
products in order to meet its goals in both the short and long terms
• a company’s managers can determine how much effort should be dedicated to each of the
company’s products in order to meet its short and long term goals
• it can be determined by company managers how much effort ought to be devoted to each of
the company’s products in order to meet its goals, both short and long term
• it may be possible for company managers to determine how much effort should be dedicated
to each of these products in order to meet the company’s short and long term goals
• managers at a company can determine how much effort ought to be dedicated to each of
these products in order to meet the company’s goals in both the short and long term

6. Given its authoritative coverage of other science topics, the textbook's chapter on genetics is
surprisingly tentative, which leads one to doubt the author's scholarship in that particular area.

• the textbook's chapter on genetics is surprisingly tentative, which leads
• the chapter of the textbook on genetics is surprisingly tentative, leading
• the textbook contains a surprising and tentative chapter on genetics, which leads
• the textbook's chapter on genetics is surprisingly tentative and leads
• the textbook is surprisingly tentative in its chapter on genetics, leading

7. Hailed as a key discovery in the science of evolution, the fossils of a large scaly creature
resembling both a fish and a land-animal provide evidence of a possible link in the
evolutionary chain from water-based to land-based organisms.

• the fossils of a large scaly creature resembling both a fish and a land-animal provide evidence
of
• a large scaly creature resembling both a fish and a land-animal provides fossils that are
evidence
• a large scaly creature, whose fossils resemble both a fish and a land-animal, provides evidence
of
• the fossils of a large scaly creature, which resembles both a fish and a land-animal, provides
evidence of
• the fossils of a large scaly creature resemble both a fish and a land-animal and provide
evidence of

8. Hoping to alleviate some of the financial burdens of a growing population, property taxes last
year were raised by an eleven percent increase by the county government.

• property taxes last year were raised by an eleven percent increase by the county government
• property taxes were raised by eleven percent last year by the county government
• the county government raised property taxes by an eleven percent increase last year
• the county government last year raised by eleven percent property taxes
• the county government raised property taxes by eleven percent last year[color=#ff0000] [/color]

9. In order to properly evaluate a patient’s state of mind and gain informed consent prior to
surgery, a substantial period of time must be spent with the operating physician by the patient
to become fully aware of the pros and cons of undergoing a surgical procedure.

• a substantial period of time must be spent with the operating physician by the patient to
become fully aware of the pros and cons of undergoing a surgical procedure
• the operating physician and the patient must spend a substantial amount of time together,
thus ensuring full awareness of the pros and cons of undergoing the surgical procedure
• the patient must spend a substantial amount of time with his or her operating physician, thus
ensuring that he or she has been made fully aware of the pros and cons of undergoing the
surgical procedure
• the operating physician must spend a substantial amount of time with the patient, thus
ensuring that the patient is fully aware of the pros and cons of accepting the undergoing
procedure
• the operating physician must ensure that he or she is fully aware of the pros and cons of
undergoing a surgical procedure by spending a substantial amount of time with the patient

10. Many daring vacationers who participate in guided boat tours on the Tarcoles River encounter
native crocodiles lurking in the shallows, whose eyes and noses are peaking out from the
surface of the murky water.

• encounter native crocodiles lurking in the shallows,whose eyes and noses are peaking out
• encountered native crocodiles lurking in the shallows, whose eyes and noses peak out
• had encountered native crocodiles lurking in the shallows, whose eyes and noses peak out
• encounter native crocodiles lurking in the shallows,with eyes and noses peaking out
• encounter native crocodiles lurking in the shallows,with eyes and noses that are peaking out

1. IMO is D
Verb-ed modifiers always modify the closest noun. "Snow-covered" should modify runway. Given that, in A,C, E - it seems to modify the Aviation officials- which is not correct. In B, it modifies runway conditions- incorrect. in D it correctly modifies the runway.
2. E, same logic as in question 1. Discouraged is intended to modify Shareholders, which it correctly does only in C and E. But C changes the tense and hence is incorrect.

3. Found in the wild only in Australia and New Guinea, powerful back legs with long feet
distinguish kangaroos from other large mammals.

• powerful back legs with long feet distinguish kangaroos from other large mammals
• powerful back legs with long feet distinguish kangaroos from other mammals that are large
• powerful back legs with long feet distinguish kangaroos from those of other mammals that are
large
• kangaroos are distinguished from other large mammals by powerful legs with long feet
• kangaroos are being distinguished from other mammals that are large by powerful legs with
long feet

Meaning
Kangaroos are found in the wild in Australia and New Guinea. Their powerful back legs with long feet distinguish them from other large mammals.

Error Analysis
According to the sentence, Powerful back legs with long feet are found in Australia and New Guinea. This is illogical. Modifier Error

POE

• powerful back legs with long feet distinguish kangaroos from other large mammals-As discussed in error analysis
• powerful back legs with long feet distinguish kangaroos from other mammals that are large-same as error analysis
• powerful back legs with long feet distinguish kangaroos from those of other mammals that are large-here powerful back lags of kangaroos are distinguishing from those of other mammals....those does not have an antecedent, also it repeats the error in A.
• kangaroos are distinguished from other large mammals by powerful legs with long feet- Correct choice
• kangaroos are being distinguished from other mammals that are large by powerful legs with long feet- this statement conveys other mammal are large by powerful legs, being distinguished is a wrong form

Here are my answers :
1. d
2. e
3. d
4. e
5. b
6. e
7. a
8. e
9. d
10. d

1. Although covered in about 11 inches of snow, aviation officials said that conditions on the
runway at the time of the emergency landing was acceptable.

• aviation officials said that conditions on the runway at the time of the emergency landing was
acceptable
• the runway conditions during the emergency landing were acceptable according to aviation
officials
• according to aviation officials, the runway was in acceptable condition during the time of the
emergency landing
• the runway was in acceptable condition during the emergency landing, according to aviation
officials - Correct
• aviation officials said that conditions on the runway at the time of the emergency landing were
acceptable

2. Discouraged by new data that show increases in toxic emissions from domestic factories,
searches for alternative investment opportunities are being conducted by shareholders of the
nation’s leading manufacturing companies.

• searches for alternative investment opportunities are being conducted by shareholders of the
nation’s leading manufacturing companies
• searches are being conducted by shareholders of the nation’s leading manufacturing
companies who are looking for alternative investment opportunities
• shareholders of the nation’s leading manufacturing companies had begun searching for
investment opportunities outside of the manufacturing industry
• the nation’s leading manufacturing companies are searching for alternative investment
opportunities for its shareholders
• shareholders of the nation’s leading manufacturing companies are searching for alternative
investment opportunities - Correct

3. Found in the wild only in Australia and New Guinea, powerful back legs with long feet
distinguish kangaroos from other large mammals.

• powerful back legs with long feet distinguish kangaroos from other large mammals
• powerful back legs with long feet distinguish kangaroos from other mammals that are large
• powerful back legs with long feet distinguish kangaroos from those of other mammals that are
large
• kangaroos are distinguished from other large mammals by powerful legs with long feet - Correct
• kangaroos are being distinguished from other mammals that are large by powerful legs with
long feet

4. Responding to growing demand for high-end vehicles, the interiors of the newest models are
so luxurious that they sell for nearly twice the price of last year's models.

• the interiors of the newest models are so luxurious that they sell
• the interiors of the newest models are so luxurious that the cars are sold
• auto makers have installed interiors in the newest models that are so luxurious that they sell
• the interior of the newest models are so luxurious that they are sold
• auto makers have installed such luxurious interiors in the newest models that these cars sell - Correct

5. By applying optimization techniques commonly used to plan operations, it is possible to
determine how much effort ought to be devoted to each of a company’s products in order to
meet its goals in both the short and long terms.

• it is possible to determine how much effort ought to be devoted to each of a company’s
products in order to meet its goals in both the short and long terms
• a company’s managers can determine how much effort should be dedicated to each of the
company’s products in order to meet its short and long term goals Correct
• it can be determined by company managers how much effort ought to be devoted to each of
the company’s products in order to meet its goals, both short and long term
• it may be possible for company managers to determine how much effort should be dedicated
to each of these products in order to meet the company’s short and long term goals
• managers at a company can determine how much effort ought to be dedicated to each of
these products in order to meet the company’s goals in both the short and long term

6. Given its authoritative coverage of other science topics, the textbook's chapter on genetics is
surprisingly tentative, which leads one to doubt the author's scholarship in that particular area.

• the textbook's chapter on genetics is surprisingly tentative, which leads
• the chapter of the textbook on genetics is surprisingly tentative, leading
• the textbook contains a surprising and tentative chapter on genetics, which leads
• the textbook's chapter on genetics is surprisingly tentative and leads
• the textbook is surprisingly tentative in its chapter on genetics, leading - Correct

7. Hailed as a key discovery in the science of evolution, the fossils of a large scaly creature
resembling both a fish and a land-animal provide evidence of a possible link in the
evolutionary chain from water-based to land-based organisms.

• the fossils of a large scaly creature resembling both a fish and a land-animal provide evidence
of - Correct
• a large scaly creature resembling both a fish and a land-animal provides fossils that are
evidence
• a large scaly creature, whose fossils resemble both a fish and a land-animal, provides evidence
of
• the fossils of a large scaly creature, which resembles both a fish and a land-animal, provides
evidence of
• the fossils of a large scaly creature resemble both a fish and a land-animal and provide
evidence of

8. Hoping to alleviate some of the financial burdens of a growing population, property taxes last
year were raised by an eleven percent increase by the county government.

• property taxes last year were raised by an eleven percent increase by the county government
• property taxes were raised by eleven percent last year by the county government
• the county government raised property taxes by an eleven percent increase last year
• the county government last year raised by eleven percent property taxes
• the county government raised property taxes by eleven percent last year - Correct

9. In order to properly evaluate a patient’s state of mind and gain informed consent prior to
surgery, a substantial period of time must be spent with the operating physician by the patient
to become fully aware of the pros and cons of undergoing a surgical procedure.

• a substantial period of time must be spent with the operating physician by the patient to
become fully aware of the pros and cons of undergoing a surgical procedure
• the operating physician and the patient must spend a substantial amount of time together,
thus ensuring full awareness of the pros and cons of undergoing the surgical procedure
• the patient must spend a substantial amount of time with his or her operating physician, thus
ensuring that he or she has been made fully aware of the pros and cons of undergoing the
surgical procedure
• the operating physician must spend a substantial amount of time with the patient, thus
ensuring that the patient is fully aware of the pros and cons of accepting the undergoing
procedure - Correct
• the operating physician must ensure that he or she is fully aware of the pros and cons of
undergoing a surgical procedure by spending a substantial amount of time with the patient

10. Many daring vacationers who participate in guided boat tours on the Tarcoles River encounter
native crocodiles lurking in the shallows, whose eyes and noses are peaking out from the
surface of the murky water.

• encounter native crocodiles lurking in the shallows,whose eyes and noses are peaking out
• encountered native crocodiles lurking in the shallows, whose eyes and noses peak out
• had encountered native crocodiles lurking in the shallows, whose eyes and noses peak out
• encounter native crocodiles lurking in the shallows,with eyes and noses peaking out - Correct
• encounter native crocodiles lurking in the shallows,with eyes and noses that are peaking out

Can somebody point me to OA?

4. Responding to growing demand for high-end vehicles, the interiors of the newest models are
so luxurious that they sell for nearly twice the price of last year's models.

• the interiors of the newest models are so luxurious that they sell
• the interiors of the newest models are so luxurious that the cars are sold
• auto makers have installed interiors in the newest models that are so luxurious that they sell
• the interior of the newest models are so luxurious that they are sold
• auto makers have installed such luxurious interiors in the newest models that these cars sell


Meaning
There is a growing demand for high-end vehicles. Responding to this demand, car companies have made the interiors of newest models luxurious. Due to this, high end vehicles are selling for nearly twice the price of last year's models.

Error Analysis
"Verb-ing" Modifier responding modifies the interiors of newest models. This modification is incorrect. The interiors are not responding to growing demand. This structure is illogical. Also relative pronoun that has ambiguity, Its not clear whether the newest models/the interiors are selling at twice the price.

POE

• the interiors of the newest models are so luxurious that they sell- Explained in error analysis
• the interiors of the newest models are so luxurious that the cars are sold- Modifier error, Verb-tense error. "are sold"
• auto makers have installed interiors in the newest models that are so luxurious that they sell- Relative pronoun that refers to newest models
• the interior of the newest models are so luxurious that they are sold- All errors are repeated in this statement
• auto makers have installed such luxurious interiors in the newest models that these cars sell- Correct choice

5. By applying optimization techniques commonly used to plan operations, it is possible to
determine how much effort ought to be devoted to each of a company’s products in order to
meet its goals in both the short and long terms.

• it is possible to determine how much effort ought to be devoted to each of a company’s
products in order to meet its goals in both the short and long terms
• a company’s managers can determine how much effort should be dedicated to each of the
company’s products in order to meet its short and long term goals
• it can be determined by company managers how much effort ought to be devoted to each of
the company’s products in order to meet its goals, both short and long term
• it may be possible for company managers to determine how much effort should be dedicated
to each of these products in order to meet the company’s short and long term goals
• managers at a company can determine how much effort ought to be dedicated to each of
these products in order to meet the company’s goals in both the short and long


Meaning
Applying optimization techniques which are commonly used to plan operations,it is possible to determine how much effort the company should spend on each of its products. The company should do this to meet its short and long term goal

Error Analysis
By applying "Verb-ing" should modify the noun immediately succeeding the comma. In this question "It" is followed by comma. This is illogical "it" cannot apply the optimization techniques. the word followed by comma need to be an entity.

POE
• it is possible to determine how much effort ought to be devoted to each of a company’s
products in order to meet its goals in both the short and long terms- as discussed in error analysis
• a company’s managers can determine how much effort should be dedicated to each of the
company’s products in order to meet its short and long term goals- Correct choice( this is the best choice but I have a question, to meet "Its short and long term...", there is no clear antecedent for Its here
• it can be determined by company managers how much effort ought to be devoted to each of
the company’s products in order to meet its goals, both short and long term- same error as A
• it may be possible for company managers to determine how much effort should be dedicated
to each of these products in order to meet the company’s short and long term goals- same error as A
• managers at a company can determine how much effort ought to be dedicated to each of
these products in order to meet the company’s goals in both the short and long -" these products, there is no antecedent for these."

1.d
2.e
3.d
4.e
5.b
6.d
7.a
8.e
9.b
10.d

Can someone please post consolidated list of OAs?

OAs and OEs coming this evening!

1. D
First part of the sentence, "Although covered in snow" is modifying Runway, not aviation officials or runway conditions.
D. the runway was in acceptable condition during the emergency landing, according to aviation
officials - is correct

2. E
Who is discouraged? here, discouraged should modify share holders, not searches, or nation's companies. Also, note the tense of the original sentence. C uses past tense, and is incorrect. E is correctly modifying Shareholders, and uses correct tense.

3. D
"Found in Australia" should modify kangaroos. That leaves A,B,C out. E incorrectly uses "are being" and "that are"
D is correct is structure and clear in meaning.

4. C
"Responding to growing demand" should modify an entity capable of responding - not interiors of vehicles. That leaves A,B, D out. C uses "they" but it is not clear what they is referring to. E is the best choice.

5. B
By applying modifies Company's manager - a being capable of applying optimization techniques - makes sense
It also corrects "in both the short and long terms"

6. E
The first part "Given its authoritative coverage of other science topics" is intended to modify "the textbook" and not its "chapter" . That leaves with C and E. In C, the use of which leads is confusing and incorrect. E is the best as it correctly modifies Textbook, and replaces "which leads" with "leading" making the meaning clear

7. A
The key discovery is referring to the fossils, that leaves B,C, out. D uses Singular "provides" for a plural subject "fossils" - D is out. Between A and E, A conveys clear meaning.

8. E
Again, "Hoping to alleviate" is referring to the County government, that leaves A, B out. C uses "Raise" and "increase" together causing redundancy - C is out. D is confusing in structure. E is the best choice, clear in meaning and structurally correct.

9. D
Question to consider is who needs to evaluate a patient’s state of mind and gain informed consent? The first part is modifying the physician, and the physician must spend time with the patient so that the Patient understands the pros and cons. (to be able to give an informed consent, patient must know the pros and cons)
D is the only choice that clearly conveys this.

10. D
use of "whose" after the comma is modifying closest noun - shallows. That leaves A,B, C out. E uses "that are" which is again unclear. D is the best option.

IMO
D
E
D
E
E
E
D
E
D
D
please post the OA. Thanks

Posted from my mobile device

Posted from my mobile device

My Take:
1-D
2-E
3-D
4-C
5-B
6-E
7-A
8-E
9-D
10-D
Need OA Please...